Senior runs for 247 yards as Vikings win fourth consecutive crown.

Midway through the 2012 football season, Central Catholic was clinging to hope of making the District 11 Class 3A playoff field.

The Vikings were 1-3 and facing the challenge of having to beat some quality Lehigh Valley Conference teams to get in.

No problem. Running back Colin McDermott ran for at least 200 yards in four of the last six regular-season games and a win over Nazareth catapulted Central Catholic to the top of the 3A standings.

Midway through the second quarter of Friday night's district championship game, Central Catholic was clinging to a three-point lead and facing a third-and-8 situation near midfield.

In important situations, the Vikings turn to senior running back Colin McDermott.

That's what Southern Lehigh thought.

But Central Catholic called for a pass play. Anthony Beck hit Ryan Belville with a 53-yard touchdown pass and the Vikings were on their way.

McDermott rushed for 247 yards and a score with four seconds left in the first half and Central Catholic went on to win its fourth consecutive district title with a 23-0 win at J. Birney Crum Stadium.

Beck threw two touchdown passes and the Vikings had a goal-line stand in the third quarter to keep the shutout intact.

"Our defense overall did a tremendous job," said Central Catholic first-year coach John Cupples. "That was a huge stop for us, something we needed to do in order to get better."

Southern Lehigh, which lost to Central Catholic for the third time in the last four years, managed just 127 yards total offense on just 36 plays.

McDermott, meanwhile, had 43 carries himself on his way to his fifth 200-yard game this season.

"If you would have told me that we would hold McDermott to one touchdown …," Spartans coach John Toman started. "He got his yardage, but that third-down pass was the big difference."

McDermott's touchdown just before halftime was a back breaker, too, because it was set up by a fourth-down offsides call by Southern Lehigh three players earlier. Then, the Spartans were called for defensive holding on an incompletion on the following play.

That score also gave McDermott the school's single-season record for rushing TDs with 32, breaking Rashonn Drayton's mark. The senior RB also has 5,661 career rushing yards and 76 TDs — extending his school records.

But, in typical fashion, he deflected the praise.

"I'm just happy for the entire team because nobody was talking to us in August and now people are talking to us in November," McDermott said. "That's going to continue to be our motivation."

After Beck and Belville connected for another TD pass midway through the third quarter, the Vikings' defense bent but didn't break.

The Spartans got to the Vikings' 1-yard line, but couldn't convert on fourth down. Quarterback Travis Edmond was tackled around the right end after looking to pass.

"It was a [Tim] Tebow play," Toman said. "[Edmond] took two steps forward and jumped and Cody Heffelfinger, our left tight end, was uncovered. Travis just didn't see him.

"It was the right play. We just didn't execute it."

McDermott executed Central Catholic's offensive game plan again by getting many of his yards after initial contact.

"Whatever it takes to win," he said.

Edmond finished the season with 1,585 yards passing after completing four of nine Friday for 62 yards and one interception. The sophomore's yardage total is second all-time for a single season. Brother Ty threw for 1,637 yards last season.

Southern Lehigh junior receiver Jake Del Priore had three catches for 53 yards, bringing his season totals to 41 for 760. He is 36 receptions and 350 yards shy of the school career marks set by Jeff Smillie in 2010.

For the third year in a row, Southern Lehigh lost a championship game, falling last season to Berwick in the Eastern Conference 3A final. The other two years were to Central Catholic in the district final, leaving Toman's club without a postseason crown.

The Vikings also beat the Spartans in the 2009 semis.

"The one difference with tonight was that we proved we belonged with them," Toman said. "We just came up short."